Australia Announces Squad for WTC Final Against South Africa
Australia's Squad for the World Test Championship Final
New Delhi, May 13: The Australian cricket team, the reigning champions of the World Test Championship (WTC), has officially announced its lineup to compete against South Africa in the finals scheduled for next month at Lord's, as stated in a release from Cricket Australia.
Cameron Green is making a comeback to the Test squad following his recovery from back surgery, and spinner Matt Kuhnemann has also been included. This announcement was made as Australia prepares for both the WTC final and an upcoming tour of the Caribbean.
Brendan Doggett, who was named the Sheffield Shield player of the final, will serve as a travelling reserve for the 15-member squad, which largely mirrors the team that triumphed over Sri Lanka 2-0 and India 3-1 last summer.
Pat Cummins' team aims to become the first to secure multiple WTC titles when they face South Africa at Lord's starting June 11.
Both Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have recovered from injuries that sidelined them during the Sri Lanka tour and the Champions Trophy earlier this year, returning to competitive play through the Indian Premier League.
Australia secured its place in the WTC final by winning four out of six series, including a drawn 2-2 series against England in the 2023 Ashes and a 1-1 draw with the West Indies during the 2023-24 home season.
South Africa led the standings with eight victories out of 12 Tests, achieving a points percentage of 69.44, while Australia followed closely with a 67.54 percentage from 13 wins in 19 matches.
George Bailey, the selection chair, remarked, “The team concluded the WTC cycle with a commendable series win in Sri Lanka, following a strong summer where they defeated India for the first time in a decade. These series showcased consistent performance throughout the two-year cycle and now presents us with an exciting opportunity to defend the World Test Championship.”
He further added, “Reaching the final means a lot to the group, and they are eagerly anticipating the challenge that South Africa will pose at Lord's.”
The selectors have maintained the same squad for the three Tests in the Caribbean, with Beau Webster continuing as the preferred allrounder after a promising start to his Test career. Sam Konstas is also back in the squad after returning early from Sri Lanka to complete the domestic season with New South Wales.
Australia's squad for the WTC final includes: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, and Beau Webster. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett.